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Work to Rule

What Does "Work to Rule" Mean?

homeidiomsWork to Rule
"Work to rule" is an English idiom. It means "a labour action in which employees adhere strictly to the terms of their employment contracts and job descriptions, often as a form of protest or slowdown."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "work to rule" used in a sentence:
  • The employees decided to work to rule as a protest against changes in their working conditions.
  • During the strike, the workers followed work-to-rule instructions, leading to a decrease in productivity.
  • The teachers engaged in a work-to-rule campaign to demand better benefits and job security.
meaning for work to rule

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Work to Rule" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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